The reverse swing bowling is the most difficult to learn, and only some fast bowlers can reverse swing with the old ball. Every bowler has the chance to give early breakthroughs to the opponent team with the new ball.
The ultimate test of a bowler comes when the ball is drifting and rough towards the opposite direction. If we compare both reverse and traditional swing, the batsman finds it challenging to play it in any conditions.
The dangerous part of reverse swing bowling is that the ball drifts towards the shiner side of the ball rather than the rough side. This article explains swing bowling by reverse, how it works, reverse swing techniques, and the best reverse swing bowlers.
Contents
Reverse Swing Bowling Explained – Free Tips
A cricket ball typically swings on the opposite side of where the shiny side is. If the shining side of the ball faces a right-handed batsman, then the ball ends up swinging away from him.
Similarly, if the rough side faces the right-handed batsman, the cricket ball swings into him, therefore, the direction of a cricket ball swing depends on the seam position held by the fast bowlers, and it is easy to infer.
The complete opposite effect takes place in the case of reverse swing. But average swing bowling is easier to affect with a new ball, and swing bowlers must rely on an old ball to reverse the ball’s swing.
When the ball swings in reverse, the delivery comes into the right-handed batsman if the smooth side of the ball is facing toward him. Suppose the shining side of the ball is not towards him; the ball swings away from him.
So when the bowler is bowling an outswinger with the normal seam straight position, the reverse swing bowling makes it an inswinger.
How Reverse Swing In Cricket Works
Players often try their best to create shine on one side of the ball by repeatedly rubbing it on their thighs and spitting on it. Otherwise, naturally, the other side of the leather ball becomes rougher due to the tear and wear of the dry and rough pitch, and eventually, the tears, pits, and scratches become too deep.
If there is a pressure difference between the two sides of the ball, a side swing or force is generated even though it is hard to predict precisely when the reverse swing comes into effect.
The tipping point is around overs 35-40, although numerous cases of reverse swing are coming into effect even when the ball is around 15-20 overs old. When it comes into play is determined by a host of factors, such as the weather and the nature of the pitch.
Reverse Swing Bowling Techniques In Cricket
- Choose one side of the ball to keep it shiny and polished. Leave the other side and if 1 side has visible wear on it after 5 overs, polish the opposite side.
- Wipe the sweat off your skin from your arms, neck, and forehead.
- After collecting sweat, rub the leather on one side and work the mixture across the whole side. Including the area stitches in the middle of the ball.
- Bend your leg slightly to make a crease in your pants, and rub the shiny side of the ball against your pants until it gets dry.
- Start reverse swing bowling after the ball has gone through 20-25 overs.
- Hold the ball with the seams pointing toward the slips fielder behind the wicketkeeper.
- Now point the rough side of the ball towards the batsman.
- Cock your wrist back and keep it locked at a 20-30-degree angle toward the batsmen.
- Reverse swing bowling works when they are thrown at high speeds so bowl the ball over 80 mi (130 km) per hour.
Best Reverse Swing Bowler In Indian Team
India’s own Zaheer Khan was the best reverse swing bowler. Possessing all the qualities and traits of an ace and a to-notch fast bowler, he could swing the ball both ways and reverse.
What is worth noting here is that he managed to do all these in the flat sub-continental pitches and rarely helped the fast bowlers. Zaheer still managed to claim 311 victims in 92 test matches in the majority of spinner-friendly pitches.
Reverse Swing Bowler FAQ
1. Who is the King of reverse swing in cricket?
Wasim Akram was one of the greatest bowlers in the history of ODI cricket and could make the ball swing in both directions and reverse swing.
2. How to do reverse swing bowling?
Point the ball’s rough side toward the batsman.
3. Who is the best Indian reverse swing bowler?
Zaheer Khan is the best Indian reverse swing bowler.
Conclusion – Reverse Swing Bowling Science
A thin layer of air forms around its surface once the cricket ball is bowled. This is known as the boundary layer. This boundary layer does not attach to the surface all the way around. So it should separate at a certain point on the ball.
This separation point will affect how the ball moves through the air. A late separation leads to lower pressure on that side, and a lateral force will be generated if there is a pressure difference between the sides that makes the ball move sideways.
Because of the shining and polishing, the other side of the ball finds air coverage; therefore, the quicker air flow takes place on the shiny side of the ball. The ball then swings in the reverse direction as it usually does with a normal swing.
A conventional inswinger would swing away from the batsman, known as the reverse swing bowling or contrast swing in cricket.
